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Asthma is a chronic lung disease
characterized by the inflamed, swollen and narrowed airways making
breathing difficult.
Eating a healthy balanced diet is important to everyone. For
asthmatics, following an asthma diet could prevent food allergies that
will result to inflammation in the bronchi (the large air tubes leading
from the trachea to the lungs) that convey air to and from the lungs.
There are diets that cause allergic reaction thus triggering attacks and
there are asthma diets that can help control attacks. Nutrition and diet
for asthma can affect asthma attacks in many different ways.
Food allergy for asthmatics is often overlooked because the usual
skin tests are often negative and symptoms appear gradually hours or
days after ingestion of food. Asthma diet is important as there is still
high mortality even though there is continuous improvement in drug
therapy.
Food triggering asthma is rare, but still diet can affect asthma in
different ways. It is important to keep an asthma diet diary to avoid
food triggering asthma attacks.
Avoid mucus forming foods such as chocolates, white sugar and cakes.
Including these foods on your asthma diet may promote excess mucus which
will further block the airways and makes breathing difficult and thus
worsen the condition.
There are some
foods that help control asthma attacks and improve lung function.
Coffee for instance helps reduce the effects of asthma attacks and
facilitate easier breathing due to caffeine which is
very similar to asthma medicine called theophylline. Two to three cups
can provide short term relief to asthma attacks.
Asthma diet which
includes garlic and onions contains quercetin which is
anti-inflammatory. Fatty fish (due to omega 3) and food rich in
Vitamin C makes the mucus thinner and helps breathing easier.
Drinking lots of clean spring water (not chlorinated tap water) at
room temperature can make the mucus thinner.
Stress triggered
asthma may need asthma diet that contains Vitamin B like green leafy
vegetables. Panthothenic Acid –Vitamin B5 helps form antibodies which
can be found in fish and other dairy products, legumes and broccoli.
Most asthmatics
have high levels of oxidants and low levels of antioxidants in their
diet. Anti-oxidants defend against free radicals which cause
inflammation which are common for asthmatics. N-acetylcysteine is an
anti-oxidant that thins the bronchial mucus.
The addition of
antioxidants in diet for asthma which include Vitamin A rich foods (liver,
beta-carotene from colored fruits and vegetables), Vitamin C from citrus
fruits and Vitamin E (vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables) strengthens the lungs and wash away free radicals which are harmful
substances generated as part of asthmatics inflammatory response to
allergens and air pollution. Grape skin and green tea, lycopene
(tomatoes, watermelons) are also powerful anti-oxidants.
Asthmatics are chronically
deficient in magnesium. Include magnesium (from milk, dairy
products, legumes, green leafy vegetables and whole grains) on your
asthma diet which helps to relax the bronchial tubes.
Asthma diet high in nutrients can also boosts immune system
that protect against colds and flu which are both common asthma
triggers.
Although you can just eliminate the most common food
allergens from your diet, it is also recommended that you seek advice
from experts regarding your asthma diet.
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Dramatic Asthma Relief Report
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